Mogadishu (SD) – The speaker of Somalia’s upper house of parliament, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, has today issued a statement that seems to escalate the controversy surrounding the electoral commission in the northern regions.
The speaker’s three-page statement outlines the process and approach to the election of members of both houses of parliament from Somaliland.
The letter is in response to the concerns and mistrust of electing parliamentary candidates and presidential candidates in the 2020/21 elections, not being in line with the election agreement reached by President Farmajo and state governments.
Abdi Hashi announced the requirements for the election committee members of the two houses of parliament from the northern regions of the country, setting nine criteria for membership of the committee, including:
1 – He must be a citizen of the Northern Provinces and shall not be less than 25 years of age or older than 70 years.
2 – Must have a University Degree.
3 – He must be a neutral and not a member of an association, political party or is not known to campaign for a particular candidate.
4 – Not to be a part of the official and interim civil servants, advisers to government offices or the various branches of the national army.
5 – To be known for honesty and justice in the society, and never to be seen as corrupt and immoral.
6 – That he is physically able to perform his duties and responsibilities.
7 – Must have at least three years of work experience.
8 – He must not be a candidate for the House of Representatives or a member of the Electoral Commission
9 – Not to have been convicted of a crime within the last five years.
Finally, the speaker said that the election of members of the lower house of the Somali parliament in the northern regions will follow the 2016 election process, while those in the upper house will be elected by up to 77 delegates.
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